gulp. yes…there was a literal gulp as i opened this post.

because i started out as a wedding photographer and a wedding photographer only, and here i am saying a sad goodbye to weddings so i can pour my whole heart into the family photography and education pieces of my business.

i fought with myself for a while; why even have a big grand goodbye for weddings? why not just keep them around just in case, save them for a few years from now in case i change my mind or have more time to devote to my business? plus why the blunt divorce when i still love weddings, so, so much? plus what about all the beautiful, amazing, indescribable couples and people and biggest days I’ve been honored to be part of? does my move away from weddings make their images a little less credible? (i mean that’s kinda ridiculous, but your brain brings up some clever crazy weird thoughts when it senses danger, even if that danger is just internet strangers’ opinions of you.)

so the answer to all this isn’t very explainable. definitely not in a few sentences.

but sometimes you have a gut feeling.

and sometimes you know it’s time to move on, move out and make space in your life. even if i could argue that i could still fit weddings into everything else i want to do, something is telling me to lovingly let them go instead of clenching them tight, to make room for all the other beauty in my world professionally and at home.

i want to explain and justify more, mostly for the imaginary haterrs in my mind, and that’s my cue to stop.

this can’t end without the world’s most wimpy thank you to all the wondrous hearts who invited me in to their biggest beginning. i love you all and that is for real. (ps bring me your babies to photograph amen.)

and like a too-long goodbye kiss, just as i’m telling you you’ll never get to see any more, here are some favorites from recent weddings wink.

 

 

*I will still be taking weddings on a very, very limited basis, so if you like what you see and wanna chat about your big day, contact me here.

there is so much to say and there is nothing at all to say because when I gush about these two you’ll think it’s exaggeration, you’ll think there’s no way they can be for real but if you know them, if you were there, you know how tangible it was. their love–absolutely. their thoughtfulness, the way they open their arms and hearts wide to everyone–yes, yess, you could have cut it with a knife it was buzzing in the air.
 
but also the thing you could feel and i was sure i could almost touch: the love and support of every family member and friend and it’s this converging of all the worlds you’ve ever inhabited as just one person, now moving forward as two.
 
johnny and toni, you are an unstoppable, one of a kind pair. a huge thank you for letting me in on your wedding day, and I just can’t wait to see all the good and beauty and light you bring to the world next.
and if you’re getting married and you’d like to make un-cookie cutter photos with the one you love, i’d love to be your girl. let’s chat about your wedding.

art is my way to explore and process the world–life experience, love, beauty, femininity, grit, light, dark. all that sounds sooo high horse, so i gotta tell you too–i also just wanna create to have fun. shooting takes me to a place nothing else does.
 
like liz gilbert says– “creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. what we do matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. we toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. we are terrified, and we are brave. art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. the work wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you.”

thank you THANK YOU to the fab Alicia Wheeler for bringing the makeup and hair vision to life.
And if you wanna make some art too, let’s chat about your session

it has been amazin me lately that two people who fit ever find each other.
 
like, all of us are so strange, so quirky and unknowable and changing from minute to minute–how do we ever find that other half that fits with ours when we’re unpredictable all the time? i had no idea in the world how perfect jared was for me when i made that lucky wonderful choice to make him mine for always.
 
but sara and james, they seem like they know. they have an ease about their love that’d make you guess they’d been married forever, not twenty minutes. they were wed on a frozen day with snow picturesquely falling and everyone cozy with the glow of the rightness of their match. okay, i’m waxing cheesy, which is always how i know it’s time to go to the photos.
 
sara and james, thank you for letting me be part of your day. your effortless comfort with each other and the happy you radiate is out of this world.

This gorgeous wedding was in Utah, where I still go sometimes because airplanes, so if you’re getting married there let’s chat. Most days you’ll find me in Orange County, CA where I photograph couples crazy in love and families who care about meaning more than spotless bathrooms.

And hey? If you’re a photographer too, I make cool stuff for you about making art + making a non-sleazy living while doing it. Get in for free juicy content right here.

It rained, it poured, we were soaked. then the most heavenly light came through and i drank in that wild, crisp air that only comes after that kind of drench and it was one of those moments…

The kind you want to die of happiness.

photographers are probably the creepiest breed of people alive.

we want in on the biggest days, the most vulnerable stories–we feed off of those tender, emotional moments. this wedding gave me my fix so huge.

their wedding was supposed to be outside, a romantic spring affair. the rain spooked everyone indoors, though.

but we made up for it.

after everyone had gone, just the three of us went back to the other spot. the one with the lights. we took turns singing la vie en rose, and scott mouth trumpeted it to louis armstrong perfection. they danced, the wind whisked cami’s dress into a perfect sail, and that space of time–i…oh my gosh. i can’t even describe it. to say it was magic sounds aggrandizing but really and truly, it was one of the most incredible moments of my photographing life. their love, so full and gorgeous and me, let into the middle of it with no else around.

cami and scott, you know how deeply i adore you. i can’t wait to see where that beautiful love carries you. thank you over and over from the bottom of me.

See the full event and order prints here.

Getting married soon to the love of your life? Brooke Schultz is a Southern California based wild-hearted wedding and family photographer who loves intimate homegrown celebrations oozing with romance, anything involving the ocean, and baking (read: eaaating). She’d love to be part of the big day. Let’s chat about your wedding.

afluff with fat blossoms, just the right breeze,

and a love story that started way back in high school. They went to senior prom together but it was never the time, someone was always dating someone else, you know how it goes. Their families always cheered for them and talked together over the years about how great it would be if they got together. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen two families–siblings, parents, everyone–so completely thrilled about a union. I think the world of both of these humans individually, so together it’s fireworks of fabulous.

If you like these photos a lot and you are in love, I’d love to make photos with you. Let’s chat about your wedding.

Emily’s bright soul and expressive heart drew me to her immediately. She’s one of those people–infectious smile people. Make you immediately feel like her best friend people. To see how she and Daniel love each other was a real treat, and I’m so grateful to have been part of such a perfect match’s union.

Flowers: Soil and Stem

Engaged and getting ready to marry your favorite person in the history of ever? Contact me about shooting your wedding.